γαμίσκω, γαμίζω

From the study of Matthew 22:30

Range of meaning

To give in marriage, to give a daughter away as a bride. In the passive it means to be given in marriage, which in that world described the bride. In 1 Corinthians 7:38 its exact sense is debated.

Against the English

KJV, WEB, BSB and most versions keep 'given in marriage', which preserves the social picture. NLT folds it into 'will not be married', so the reader loses the point that both sides of the arrangement come to an end.

Used elsewhere in the period

Rare before the New Testament. BDAG cites the grammarian Apollonius Dyscolus (2nd century AD), who distinguishes gamō 'I marry' from gamizō 'I give in marriage'. Classical Greek used gamiskō for this. The New Testament uses it in the synoptic sayings (Matt 22:30; 24:38; Mark 12:25; Luke 17:27; 20:35).

From the study of 1 Corinthians 7:38

Range of meaning

The verb gamein means 'to marry'. The rarer gamizō is formed with the ending -izō, which often means 'to cause to': 'to give (a woman) in marriage'. That is how it is used everywhere else in the New Testament (Matt 22:30; 24:38; Mark 12:25; Luke 17:27; 20:35), always in the stock pair 'marrying and being given in marriage'. In everyday Greek of the period, however, some -izō verbs lost their 'cause to' meaning and came to mean the same as the simple verb, so 'marry' cannot be ruled out.

Against the English

The KJV, WEB and YLT keep 'give in marriage', which makes the man a father or guardian. The BSB, NIV, ESV and NLT render it 'marry', which makes him the woman's fiancé. The two choices describe two different situations.

How it drifted

This is a disputed interpretation rather than drift. Modern versions moved toward 'marry' because of clues in verses 36–37 (the plural 'let them marry', and the man's own feelings), not because the English word changed meaning.

Used elsewhere in the period

The second-century grammarian Apollonius Dyscolus explicitly distinguishes gamō ('I marry') from gamizō ('I give in marriage'), which supports the 'cause to' sense. BDAG lists 1 Cor 7:38 as a place where either 'give in marriage' or 'marry' is possible. Some later manuscripts changed the word to ekgamizō, which clearly means 'give out in marriage'. That suggests some early scribes read the verse as being about a father.

From the study of Luke 17:27

Range of meaning

Gamizō means "to give (a daughter) in marriage", that is, to marry her off. The passive, as here, means "to be given in marriage". It is paired with gameō, "to marry", which describes the groom's side. Together the pair covers the whole social arrangement of a marriage.

Against the English

Most English versions keep "being given in marriage". The KJV's "married wives ... were given in marriage" brings out the male/female division well. The NLT turns the four verbs into "banquets and parties and weddings", which keeps the general sense but loses the two-sided arrangement.

How it drifted

Modern Western marriage is chosen by the two partners, so "being given in marriage" can sound like an old-fashioned wedding formula (the father "giving away" the bride). In the ancient world it described the real legal and economic transfer arranged between families.

Used elsewhere in the period

The same pair appears in Jesus' answer to the Sadducees (Mark 12:25; Matt 22:30; Luke 20:34–35, where Luke uses the related form gamiskontai) and in the parallel Matthew 24:38. Outside the New Testament gamizō is rare. Later grammarians treated it as a Hellenistic (post-classical Greek) form alongside gamiskō and ekgamizō, per BDAG.